November 2012
1 post
New Blog!
Followers and supporters: listen up!
We are changing our blog platform from Tumblr to Wordpress. You can check out our new blog here. While our website still links to tumblr as our blog, that will be changing shortly. We wanted to give you a heads up so you can stay informed and up to date on all The White House Project happenings.
Thank you for following us. We hope you follow us on Wordpress...
June 2012
1 post
5 tags
Leadership, Work and Family
Leadership, Work and Family
From the very beginning of the White House Project, our goal was not just a woman president, but using the presidency (the only place you can convince Americans that women don’t already lead) as a way to propel a critical mass of women into leadership at all levels of government and industry. Why? Because the changes that we most need for women and men; the changes we...
March 2012
24 posts
5 tags
In My Opinion- Weekly Press Roundup By April...
In My Opinion is a weekly segment in which Interns and Staff at The White House Project comment on recent issues and articles important to their individual leadership.
Title: Parity in Politics: Why Women Don’t Want It Author: Kathleen Schafer
There’s an obvious absence of women in American politics as compared to men – but why? Schafer acknowledges the reasons we hear most often, such as...
7 tags
Don’t Wait For Change – Be It!
There’s been discussion on the Huffington Post lately about the lack of central (Gloria Steinem-esque) figures in the women’s equality movement. My main resulting question is, do we even need one?
Pat Mitchell, CEO of The Paley Center for Media, called for all U.S. female leaders to be involved in gender justice movements because those women earned those top spots, they wouldn’t be maxing out...
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Promoting Women: Women Who Have Impacted Us
“Rebel Girl Rebel Girl, you are the queen of my world” — Bikini Kill
As Women’s History Month comes to an end, I believe it is important for each of us to pay homage to a woman who has had a unique place in our development as woman-identified-women. These women are generally the unseen or under-recognized heroines in our personal lives, most likely a woman who has made us into...
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Women Who Inspire Us: The Women We Work With
Every Tuesday we have been featuring women who inspire us. While so much focus has been placed on women in the news and women in history, we cannot forget to find inspiration in the women around us and faith in ourselves. Angela’s words below reflect questions and frustrations we all have, but we also find her story inspiring as she is willing to pursue her education, find ways to balance a...
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Women's Sports and Self-Empowerment
In an interview just posted by ESPN, earlier this month President Obama took a minute to speak about women, sports, and Title IX. His interview is spot on as he reiterates that “And, so, for those of us who grew up just as Title IX was taking off, to see the development of women’s role models in sports, and for girls to know they excelled in something, there would be a spot for them in...
8 tags
In My Opinion- Weekly Press Roundup By April...
In My Opinion is a weekly segment in which Interns and Staff at The White House Project comment on recent issues and articles important to their individual leadership.
Shining Shoes Best Way Wall Street Women Outearn Men Frank Bass
Men get paid more than women in 264 out of 265 major occupations. The exception? The service industry, where women get $1.02 to every $1 that men make. The lead...
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The Complicated Issue of Stereotypes
Stereotypes are the characters that provide our world with background noise, in that we take them for granted as true unless they’re brought to our conscious attention. I’ve encountered my fair share of gender-based discriminatory language, and it’s always difficult to find a way to address it without being written off as overreacting or hypersensitive.
I’ve been involved with drumline in...
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Promoting Women Everywhere: Learning from the...
In light of Women’s History Month I found myself pondering on women’s position in politics back home. Home is the Seychelles Islands, located off the East coast of Africa and just south of the Equator. Seychelles is mostly known as a tourist destination and it seems like half a world away. So what would this island gal know about women and politics or gender equality? Surely gender disparity is...
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Women Who Inspire Us: Admiral Grace Hopper
Admiral Grace Hopper nee Murray (1906-1992) is a woman of rare accomplishments who inspires us because she pursued her interests without reference to her gender. She is one of the earliest contributors to the field of computer science, male or female, and one of the first women to make a career in the Navy. She is the co-creator of the COBOL computer language, and coiner of the term “debugging.”...
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The Power of Language in Gender Stereotypes
How many times have you heard some variation on “Let’s play hardball!” in political or business arenas? The assumption behind this is that “hard” is more “real” – faster-paced, and more risk of danger. Not incidentally, girls play softball and boys play hardball. The language of hard vs. soft, real vs. fake is instilled from Little League days on into adult lives, and we’re taught that “soft” is...
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Trailblazers of the 19th and 20th Century
In the 2008 presidential election, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin put more of the spotlight on women in politics (or lack thereof). Had either of their campaigns succeeded, one of them would have been the most powerful woman in American history. But they weren’t the first women to blaze that campaign trail – there has been a handful of extraordinary women in the 19th and 20th centuries that...
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Some Good News Out of the Women's Sports World
If you talk to Katie in our Colorado office, no matter the conversation, you might hear a lot about soccer, maybe the Bachelor, and soccer. And it’s not that we don’t love hearing about it (we love that everyone at TWHP has that one thing they care about), but this week we are thrilled she is sharing her passion for soccer in a great Op-Ed featured on The Huffington Post. Katie...
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Women Who Inspire Us Part II
This week, if you have seen any bit of news, we hope you have seen some of the women who are inspiring us today! They prove that no matter your age or your background all women have it in them to be do what many never thought possible.
Stephanie Decker: Decker, who has been in the media for placing herself in front of her two children, saving their lives during last week’s tornado, says...
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A Call to Today's Girls: Be the Exception
Today is The Girl Scouts 100th birthday, and to celebrate (aside from eating a questionable amount of Thin Mints) I’d like to talk about girls in the media —teenagers, specifically— because they are our future leaders- a promising generation that could achieve gender parity for good. But here’s the problem - contrast that idea of future leaders with the image of a typical...
In My Opinion- Weekly Press Roundup By April...
In My Opinion is a weekly segment in which Interns and Staff at The White House Project comment on recent issues and articles important to their individual leadership.
Soraya Chemaly ushered in Women’s History Month on the Huffington Post with an extended manifesto on women in current politics and the organizations pushing toward gender parity, calling for women (“and the men who get it”) to: 1....
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International Women's Day: How We are Celebrating
“If you feel strongly about a particular situation or practice, follow your heart. Often you will find others who have been looking for the same courage to speak out about the same subject. The more of you who collaborate together, the better and stronger you will be.” - Edna Adan (former first lady of Somalia)
This great quote that we found in today’s Huffington Post article...
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How are You Celebrating?
Looking for ways to celebrate International Women’s Day tomorrow? We’ve got you covered! Here are some exciting events taking place across all across the country.
RECOGNIZING WOMEN LEADERS FIGHTING HUNGER AND POVERTY, LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY When: 8 March 2012 Where: St. Francis College NY 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 About: An event intended to recognize the contributions of...
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Women Who Inspire Us
During Women’s History Month we at The White House Project think it is equally important to recognize the women around us making history today. Each day we hear dozens of amazing and inspiring stories from our alumnae as well as other community activists, business women, and aspiring politicians. Here is who we celebrate today:
Claudia Folska: This story came to us from Colorado where Folska,...
Women At Work During World War II →
afragmentcastadrift:
From the article: March is Women’s History Month, so let’s celebrate by looking at 30 full color photographs of American women who went to work in factories during World War II. Shall we?
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Time for Women in Hollywood to be the Rule, not...
Smart, kind, and important – these are the traits that Viola Davis, playing housemaid Abileen Clark, drives home in the beginning of The Help. There are many power and racial dynamics at play from the onset of the film, which have garnered lots of critical attention for the film. But ultimately, the story’s heart is about female relations in any capacity (mothers, daughters, friends, sisters) that...
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In My Opinion- Weekly Press Roundup By Sara...
In My Opinion is a weekly segment in which Interns and Staff at The White House Project comment on recent issues and articles important to their individual leadership.
1.) “Women’s Colleges Tap Underutilized Leadership Talent”
Written By Helen Drinan, President Simmons College
In this article, Author Helen Drinan explains how women’s colleges offer a safe place for young women to explore...
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In Celebration of Women’s History Month
“I always feel the movement is a sort of mosaic. Each of us puts in one little stone, and then you get a great mosaic at the end.”—Alice Paul, Suffragist
All March we will be celebrating Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is Women’s Education – Women’s Empowerment. We love the message that education (and not just about how to balance books and not burn dinner!) is important to empowering...
February 2012
3 posts
The Lone Star State
The second most populous state in the nation, Texas, entices visitors with the proud claim “It’s like a whole other country!” While women make up half the population of this unique and politically important state, their voices are grossly underrepresented on the political stage. In 2011 Texas ranked 35th in the country in terms of the proportion of women in the state legislature, with women...
Leadership Spotlight: Meet Jenny Le
As a second generation Vietnamese-American, Jenny Le of Houston, Texas, had to strike a balance between growing up in America and assisting her parents in navigating a culture that was foreign to them, but not to her. Today as a Harvard University Government major, Le uses lessons from her childhood in her studies of comparative and international policy, and hopes to create more effective laws...
January 2012
6 posts
Lessons from the Iron Lady
The recently released film The Iron Lady presents Margaret Thatcher, one of the longest-serving Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, as a headstrong advocate for what she believed. Truly, women in leadership are held to high expectations: They are asked to champion issues effectively, be exceptional communicators, all the while projecting a pleasing image.
As a young woman, I see that we do not...
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Leadership Spotlight: Stephanie Tanny
Stephanie Tanny is a perfect example of why we love our WHP alumnae. As a 25-year-old living in Denver, Colorado, Stephanie Tanny is far from your ordinary young woman. While most women her age after college are jump-starting their careers in the fickle economy, Stephanie is willfully moving forward with her goals of being a catalyst and voice for change in the representation of women.
With the...
"Women in Politics, Women in Public Service" →
“Show me something that is not transformed by the other half of the human race.” — Gloria Steinem
Is “politics” still a dirty word for women? Learn about Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s initiative to change that with the new Women in Public Service Project, together with the Seven Sister Colleges. Remember to post your opinions as a comment below or on our...
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Leadership Spotlight: Catherine Emmanuelle
White House Project alum and native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Catherine Emmanuelle, does it all. She is a board member for a community-based organization, a past and future political candidate in Wisconsin, and a full-time mom. It’s easy to say she has her hands full.
But her busy life doesn’t take away from her political ambitions. Instead, it gives her a particularly unique and crucial...
TWHP in the Media: No Women Running for President... →
Listen to The White House Project’s very own President, Tiffany Dufu, and Iowa State University’s Dianne Bystrom discuss Michele Bachmann’s withdrawal from the race for the Republican nomination and what it means in the context of the future of women in U.S. politics. Make sure to share with us your opinions by commenting below or posting on our Facebook fan page!
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Leadership Spotlight: Katherine Goodman
Katherine Goodman is one of the The White House Project’s great success stories: a former Women Helping Women Win intern (our program that pairs promising young leaders with women legislators), she’ll be starting as a Legislative Aide for Representative Jeanne Labuda on January 11th.
As Rep. Labuda’s 2011 intern, Goodman said it was “an excellent way for me to get a close look at Colorado state...
December 2011
14 posts
4 tags
A Call to Immigrant Women
Jenny Choi, Intern
I am a young immigrant woman. Around the third grade, my father decided to move our family to the United States so that he could make use of his American law degree and my sister and I could eventually go to college here. I, like many other young immigrant women living here, carry with me the experience of walking through the airport with my family, pushing a cart of a dozen...
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Leadership Spotlight: Mary Cay Marubio
As a volunteer voter protection lawyer, and a member of host committees for LGBT activists in political campaigns and fundraisers, Mary Cay Marubio is no stranger to politics.
“I love being present at the polling station and advocating for the rights of the voter,” said Mary, “I am always energized when a voter takes on the initiative and refuses to give up their right to vote—defending their...
"Controlling Trillions, Women Drive Charitable... →
“Three out of four individuals in households with incomes of $200,000 or more report women are either the sole decision maker or equal partner in directing their family’s philanthropy, according a new Bank of America Merrill Lynch survey released today.” Check this Reuters report on the increasing importance of women’s “financial clout and moral imagination” for...
"Key to Women's Ascent to Leadership Roles in... →
Check out this piece on Forbes.com where three female powerhouses, Lynn Fantom, CEO and chairman, Interpublic Group’s ID Media, Donna Pedro, chief diversity and inclusion officer, Ogilvy & Mather, and Betty Spence, NAFE president, talk about “what it takes to be a leader, how motherhood can benefit women as leaders, the importance of mentors and sponsors, and why female leadership is...
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Changing Public Education, Changing Lives!
Kathleen Ponze, Guest Blogger
I grew up the daughter of a career army officer and attended fourteen schools before I graduated from high school. Public, parochial, Department of Defense schools, coed…yet an all-girls environment was where I always felt valued and nurtured.
Fast forward almost forty years and I land my dream job: principal of an all girls’ secondary school. But not just any...
Join Shayla Owens at Go Run in Dallas!
As an Education major at Texas Southern University, Shayla Owens is a young leader working to improve public education. Shayla has spent her short college career advocating for social equity in public schools, specifically in Texas.
“In Dallas and Houston we see a great need for change because the school districts are in disarray,” says Owens, “Texas has more students in public...
Leadership Spotlight: Catherine Strode
“The White House Project trainings emphasized the concept that change doesn’t happen in isolation – you have to bring the community with you.”
It’s been two years since Catherine’s first experience with TWHP, and its lessons have stuck with her. Catherine attended TWHP trainings in order to increase her effectiveness in advocacy work. Throughout the years, Catherine has been heavily involved in...
"Women! Seize Your Authority and Trumpet Your... →
“Even though the second highly accomplished woman white collar crime professor had heard about the case I was covering, she also demurred, saying she didn’t believe she had sufficient expertise to comment. She gave me the names of a couple of male colleagues who she believed were better qualified.
Frustrated, I picked up the telephone and called a male criminal defense attorney who had been...
TWHP in the Media: "Morning After" Pill Battle →
Check out TWHP President Tiffany Dufu’s CNN interview about the Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ recent decision against making the contraceptive “morning-after” pill available over the counter without age restriction. Make sure to share your comments and input below!
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How to Fix Congress? Guide Women Through the Front...
Rebecca Liu, Intern
Germany, Brazil, India, Argentina, and Australia—five of the world’s major players—have at least one thing in common: Each has a head-of-state who is female. Why, then, hasn’t the United States been able to elect a female President in its 235 years as a country?
According to a political study conducted by researchers at both...
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Leadership Spotlight: Tracy Lenzini
Tracy Lenzini is knocking on doors and knocking doors down in Kingsley, Michigan. As a strong believer in helping those who help others, Tracy is devoted to motivating citizens to make their voices heard. She understand the daily struggles of families across the country—she’s been living with rheumatoid arthritis for ten years, and has since experienced the devastation of the recession.
But the...
A Call for More Young Women's Involvement in the... →
The movement for more women’s leadership is more focused on the future than it is in the past; the goal is to increase the number of women in leadership, not to lament the lack of women that’s been on the leadership stage in the past. But Erica Dhawan in this article asks, so where are the young women that represent this future? “In order to build a broader women’s...
"Key to Women Entering the C-suite May Just Be a... →
Research from Columbia University, Harvard Business Review, and Catalyst have all shown that having women in senior level positions at companies does make a difference in financial performance and organizational health. But a recent Ernst & Young research paper shows that without male sponsor “heroes,” it is difficult for women to rise up to leadership positions in the corporate...
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Do Not Wait: Using Student Experience to Advance...
Catherine Emmanuelle, Guest Blogger
My parents often tell the story of my bout with community organizing at the age of five, when I convened my fellow siblings around my parents’ bedroom door. With my hand on my hip and my foot tapping:
Knock knock knock. It’s Catherine and the children, and we’re here to talk to you about the rules in this house.
My parents giggled at my requests for...
November 2011
10 posts
Leadership Spotlight: Dafna Michaelson
“When I was 14, I became very disenchanted with the adults around me who would sit around and comment on the way they would handle things in our community or our city,” says Go Run alumna Dafna Michaelson. “They would throw out these ideas that sounded brilliant to me and then they would do nothing. I was very frustrated and did not understand. I made a promise to myself right then and there...
